50 Years Ago, the Most Tragic Kryptonian Hero Debuted (& The DCU Needs Her)

by

Kryptonians have always known immense tragedy. Superman was sent away from his doomed planet as a baby, growing up as its last survivor with no memory of his home. Supergirl witnessed the slow, agonizing death of her people as their sanctuary became a source of poison. Even the villainous General Zod was devastated to find his world destroyed, a loss he never overcame. Despite being symbols of hope, DC’s Kryptonian heroes are all marked by profound loss. But none have suffered as much as Power Girl.

Power Girl has endured an unimaginable amount of loss – not just a planet, but an entire universe. She’s faced more personal tragedy than many heroes in the DC universe, yet she remains a steadfast and inspiring figure. To celebrate her 50th anniversary – she first appeared in All-Star Comics #58 in 1976 – we’ll take a quick look at her origins, her current status, and why the DC Universe is better with her in it. Let’s explore Power Girl’s history.

A Woman Morooned by Realities

Okay, so Power Girl’s origin story is fascinating. Like Superman, she escaped the destruction of Krypton as an infant, but her journey was very different. Superman’s rocket was all about speed, but Power Girl traveled in a kind of living spaceship – a Symbioship – that put her in a dream state. For twenty years, she basically grew up inside this ship, raised by incredibly realistic projections of her parents. When she finally landed on Earth, she wasn’t a baby, but a fully formed adult, ready to join her cousin in fighting the good fight. She was raised as a daughter by Earth-2’s Superman and Lois Lane, and became a major hero with the Justice Society of America… until everything changed with the Crisis.

Power Girl experienced immense loss when the universe she knew was destroyed, leaving her alone in a new world with a fabricated past. During a later crisis, she regained her memories and was briefly reunited with her parents, the only other survivors from her home Earth. Sadly, they didn’t survive the event, leaving her orphaned once more. Power Girl has essentially lost her entire world and life multiple times – her original home, a fabricated reality, and then the memory of her family and world before they were gone forever. Despite all this trauma and loss, she continues to persevere.

All Power, All Heart

Power Girl has endured a lot of hardship, which has made her a uniquely strong hero, even compared to Superman and Supergirl. She often feels like an outsider, disconnected from her Kryptonian family and especially distant from her Earth-2 counterpart, Supergirl. While she can be tough and direct, she’s still deeply committed to being a hero. Though not always in the spotlight, Power Girl is a reliable force, consistently stepping up when other heroes can’t. She’s overcome devastating losses, but her resilience and unwavering dedication make her a vital asset to the DC Universe.

The new DC Universe is building Superman and Supergirl as distinct heroes. While Superman is always hopeful, Supergirl struggles with darkness but still strives to do what’s right. This version of Supergirl copes with her pain by trying to have fun, but ultimately uses her grief as motivation to help others avoid similar suffering. Power Girl, an older and more experienced version of Supergirl who has endured even greater hardship, could bridge the gap between these two characters. She demonstrates Supergirl’s potential for growth and offers a natural way to incorporate some of DC’s most popular storylines.

Power Girl is a compelling DC character – a bit of a rebel with a tough exterior, but ultimately a true hero. She’s exactly the kind of person James Gunn could make incredibly popular. Despite her own hardships, she consistently steps up to save the day, which is what really matters. Even though she’s a survivor of a destroyed world, she’s dedicated to protecting others from the same fate. Here’s to many more fantastic Power Girl stories in the years to come!

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/10-most-op-kryptonians-not-named-superman-ranked/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-06 01:10